PV fire quickly doused

Firefighters quickly doused a vegetation fire that threatened a home and an outbuilding on Gibson Lane in Potter Valley early Monday evening.

"We don't have any cause of the fire at this point, and we don't have any suspicious cause," said Potter Valley Fire Department Chief Bill Pauli.

The vegetation fire was reported at about 4:30 p.m. Aug. 5. It consumed about an acre of grass, brush and fence posts on the side of Gibson Lane that lies within the Potter Valley Fire Department's jurisdiction, but CalFire sent a wildland response because its jurisdiction -- state responsibility area -- is just across the road, according to Pauli.

The flames jumped the road and burned a few feet of grass before firefighters doused them, he said.

"That's the first thing we put out," Pauli said.

The dry grass and uphill grade on the other side of Gibson Lane would have worked against firefighters, making for quick and easy spread for the fire and more homes threatened, he said.

Gauging how large a response to send, an overflying CalFire helicopter initially estimated that the fire could have spread to as much as three acres, according to Pauli.

Firefighters had the blaze under control in 12 to 14 minutes, according to Pauli, and were mopping up hot spots just before 6 p.m.

Potter Valley sent three engines to the scene; CalFire sent five engines, a helicopter, and air attack and two air tankers to drop retardant on the fire.

Tiffany Revelle can be reached at udjtr@ukiahdj.com, on Twitter @TiffanyRevelle or at 468-3523.